All teams have to face adversity; it’s just a matter of how they deal with it.

The Dakota Ridge boys basketball team was put in a tough predicament when junior Danny DiFolco suffered a concussion Jan. 29 during a win over Standley Lake and had to miss some games, including a Feb. 5 showdown with Green Mountain.

Without DiFolco and junior Cooper Robbins (knee) the Eagles overcame to beat the Rams 63-61 and remain atop the Jeffco League.

The Jeffco school board took serious actions on Jan. 14 related to managing school facility capacity. The district’s student population has steadied at about 80,000-plus kids, and students “choicing” in and out of neighborhood schools have affected the numbers of kids at different schools.

Ken Caryl Middle School was on the block at one point so Jeffco could fill more seats at Deer Creek Middle School. A walk-through of the Deer Creek facility showed insufficient library, gym and cafeteria space for the roughly 1,200 kids that would be in that building.

Jeffco Public Schools could cut 344 teachers and staff over the next two years to help reduce the district’s operating costs in the face of a massive budget shortfall.

A draft by the budget advisory committee recommends an 8 percent reduction in spending in the general fund, out of which most teaching positions are funded. The district could also cut about 94 full-time jobs in support services, 16 in the division of instruction and others in various departments.

A former South Jeffco middle-school teacher of 34 years recently was arrested on suspicion of propositioning an undercover police officer who was posing online as a 14-year-old girl.

Lawrence Haverland, who began teaching at Ken Caryl Middle School in 1970 and retired from the school in 2004, was arrested Nov. 5 by Pueblo police. The former teacher allegedly initiated the online liaison with the undercover officer on Sept.

Jefferson County last week settled a lawsuit surrounding the 2005 death of an inmate in the jail.

An unspecified amount will be given to plaintiff Kathie Sims, whose son Anthony was found dead in the jail on Nov. 1, 2005. Anthony was in custody and facing charges related to sexual assault on a child at the time of his death.

The Sheriff’s Office completed an investigation and ultimately determined Anthony’s death was a suicide, said spokeswoman Jacki Kelley.

Francis Xavier, a 16th-century Basque missionary, is credited with writing: “Give me the children until they are seven, and anyone may have them afterward.”

Supporters (and some critics) of the Catholic Church mention Xavier when highlighting the lasting influence the religion has on its members. Score another victory this week for Rome in the football recruiting wars.

Our apologies to customers and readers of the Courier who were unable to reach us this morning via phone or e-mail. Our technical difficulties have been addressed, and you can now call 303-674-1036 for general assistance or 303-674-1039 to reach the news room. Our standard e-mail addresses are also back up and running.